Town officials have lauded the new solar farm on South Main Street, which is expected to be completed next month.

But there is one man who is not happy about it — the former owner of the property, Alfred Sylvia. Sylvia is contemplating whether he should take legal action against it.

George Miller, the chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said town officials and the solar farm developer have worked with Sylvia every step of the way to ensure that he and other neighbors were pleased.

Sylvia said he sold the land for $1.5 million to the town approximately 12 years ago under the notion that it would be developed for either a high school or municipal buildings.

Sylvia said he is not only irked by the fact that it was not developed for that purpose, but he also takes issue with the fact that the town decided to develop the front 30 acres of the 78-acre parcel.

He said if the solar farm had been built further back, it would be more aesthetically pleasing.

“We discussed it with the town ... but I don’t know what their final reason was; it could have been done so it was not offensive,” Sylvia said, stressing that the location of the panels is an eyesore.

Sylvia said when he first decided to sell the property on 49 South Main St., it was eyed for house lots.

He said when the town sought to purchase it, a deed restriction was put in place so that it would only be developed for municipal purposes.

Sylvia intimated that the solar use has stretched that limitation and represents a “gray area” that the town took advantage of.

He said at this time he does not plan on taking any action against the town. However, he said if his property value declines, he will consider it. Sylvia’s property borders the solar farm.

“When you do something you have to dot all your i’s and cross all your t’s — check it, double check it and triple check it,” Sylvia said.

Miller had a different take on the matter.

“The developer of the project worked very closely with all the abutters, especially Mr. Sylvia, to deal with any concerns that they may have or that they had and the town is fully satisfied with all actions they have taken to address the neighbors’ concerns,” Miller said.

“This is a project that has been over four years in the works and has the potential to bring a total of $7 million of revenue into the town — revenue that is much needed. And while the town makes every effort to minimize the impact on the neighborhood, which we believe is minimal, we are charged with bringing in new sources of revenue.”

Page 2 of 2 - Miller said when the town purchased the land, it intended to develop it as a hgh school. But, when that plan fell through, the town could not allow a $1.5 million property to sit dormant.

Southern Sky Renewable Energy LLC of Boston has an agreement with Berkley to install a solar array on the site that it is leasing from the town, according to Taunton Gazette reports. The agreement would see the town reap approximately $20,000 per year over the course of a 25-year agreement, Paul Modlowski, executive secretary for the Board of Selectmen, told the Gazette recently.

The photovoltaic installation, which will be the third large-scale solar farm in Berkley, is expected to put out 3.6 megawatts of power.

The farm is currently under construction, and Miller said it will be completed next month.